Any Bugs Out There?

[Sven]

My wife spotted this odd looking beetle cruising in her flower garden. I ran inside and grabbed my camera. It wouldn't stay still enough to get more than one clear picture.

 

[Kelley (Texas)]

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[Sven]

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[Sven]

The American Carrion Beetle earns its name by eating decaying flesh in both larval and adult form. Sometimes adults may be seen eating fungi or rotten fruit in addition to maggots and other insect larvae that also feed on a decaying animals. Dried skin and muscle tissue is eaten as well. This unsavory role aids in returning nutrients from dead animals back into the ecological food web.

This little beetle has the appearance of a bumble bee at first glance, especially in flight. It can smell carrion and flies to it, landing on it and quickly going to work. The yellowish pronotum ('shoulder' area) has a distinct black spot or mark on it.

Adults prefer moist habitats and are active all summer and more so on warm days. They can be found in moist areas. Hiding is its preferred method of defense. Eggs are laid near a decaying animal in order to keep the newly hatched black larvae close to a food source. It takes about 3 months for larvae to mature into adulthood. One generation of beetles is born each year.

 

[Kelley (Texas)]

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[Roscue2]

Cery nice marco shot Sven.. Purple flowers are great in the background.

 

[Kellyco/Brad]

(Wasn't sure if you opened this thread for bugs in general or not)

I generally do not shoot bugs, mainly cause I have a really cheap macro lens. Sort of ruins it for me. But I did capture 3 really nice shots of some caterpillars one morning, also with purple flowers.

They are a bit blown in some areas. Not perfect, but I blame the cheap lens.

 

[Roscue2]

Nice shots of the caterpillar and wasp Brad. I never like touching those pointy looking caterpillars in fear they might sting me, although I have no idea if they do. HH

 

[Kellyco/Brad]

I always went with the rule of thumb, if they are pretty in colors, stay away haha...and thanks, the wasp one was a lucky shot, he was moving quick.

 

[leddel]

here is one me and a friend found , don't see them to often

 

[Roscue2]

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[leddel]

Thanks Roscue2 , its a Luna Moth . almost the size of my hand

 

[Mega]

@leddel,what a beautiful picture of that moth

 

[Kellyco/Brad]

Never seen a moth that looked like that here in Florida, very elegant. Nice capture.

 

[nge]

You want macro's of bugs, I have a few to share......nge Note: The sparrow has a young praying mantis in his mouth to feed to the babies.

 

[Kelley (Texas)]

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[Sven]

Spotted this guy in our garden.

 

[Roscue2]

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